Visitors walk past the main attraction of "The Star-Spangled Banner Gallery", the almost 200-year old, 30-by 34-foot flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the US National Anthem. (TIM SLOAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

May 3, 2013

O say you can see

Some of the events marking the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 in the next two months:

May 4-5: “Attack on Havre de Grace Commemoration Weekend.” The burning of Havre de Grace by the British in 1813 will be marked through the weekend with reenactments, tall ships, a concert by the Columbia Orchestra, fireworks, a Red Coat Run 5K race, and a circa 1800 church service. www.hdgtourism.com/packages.html This is one of the Maryland’s Chesapeake Campaign events that state and local communities are hosting this summer and next. www.starspangled200.com/chesapeakecampaign.

May 5: “Legend of Kitty Knight” in Georgetown, Md., also part of Maryland’s Chesapeake Campaign. Reenactment of the British burning of Georgetown and Fredericktown on the Sassafras River in 1813. www.kentcounty1812.org/burning-of-georgetown.

May 7, May 14: On Water Lecture Series aboard the Pride of Baltimore II. Lectures by David Hildebrand and Scott Sheads on 1812 music and history, sailing from Baltimore and sponsored by National Sailing Center & Hall of Fame. www.nshof.org.

May 17-18: Maryland in the War of 1812: A Living History Event at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, Md. Learn about “The Star-Spangled Banner” and hear ballads and sea chanties, with presentations from historians such as Chris George, Vince Vaise, Mike Dixon and David Hildebrand. 301-387-4386.

May 18: Dolley Madison’s birthday is marked with cake and punch at James Madison’s home at Montpelier, Va. Special museum exhibit, A Young Nation Stands: James Madison and the War of 1812 , is open. www.montpelier.org/visit/calendar-events.

May 19: “Music of the War of 1812,” at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Boonsboro, Md., sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council. www.mdhc.org/news.

May 25: “The Choice — Risking Your Life for Freedom.” An interactive experience from the perspective of the enslaved during the summer of 1814 at Sotterley Plantation in St. Mary’s County. www.sotterley.org.

June 12-15: “From Enemies to Allies” is an international War of 1812 conference at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis; 50 scholars from the United States, Canada and Great Britain will present the most current scholarship on the causes, conduct and consequences of the war. www.starspangled200.com/feta. The conference includes tours of the “Seas, Lakes & Bay: the Naval War of 1812” art exhibit at the Naval Academy. 410-293-6933

June 14-15: Flag Day festivities in Frederick. The original “Star-Spangled Banner” manuscript comes for the first time to the town where Francis Scott Key is buried. Events include a ceremony at Key’s grave, a new exhibit at the Frederick Visitors Center, and a marker unveiling by the minor league baseball Frederick Keys honoring Key, who is the team’s namesake. www.visitfrederick.org.

June 21: National release of “Anthem,” a public TV documentary on “The Star-Spangled Banner,” featuring performances and interviews with historians and music experts. Check local listings.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.